Show case or rack



'(.NO Model.)

E. F. SPENCER.

"SHOW 'GASB 0R RACK.

Patented ont. 1-"7, 189s.

magies.'

UNITED STATESr PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN F. SPENCER, OF HASTINGS, PENNSYLVANIA. I

SHOW CASE OR RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,743, dated October 17, 1893.

Application led February 20, 1892. Renewed February 10, 1893 Serial No. 461.826. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN F. SPENCER, of

Hastings, Cambria county, State of Pennsylf Vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ShowV Cases or Racks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to `the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of so much of a show case or rack embodying my invention, as is necessary for a full understanding of the same, and Fig. 2 is a vertical central section or end view of the same.

The object of my invention is to furnish and construct a case or rack for use princi pally in post offices-but it will of course be understood that I contemplate the use of it for photographic galleries or the display of goods and in various ways for advertising' purposes.

The case or rack is very simple, easily constructed and taken apart and put together, and can be furnished at a very small cost. It consists of top and bottom pieces A and B, made preferably of molding sufficiently heavy to stand the usage to which the case or rack will be subjected. At each end of the rack or case are secured cross or upright pieces C. Suspended between these two upright side pieces is a suitable number of shelves, which may be made removable for convenience; they may also be made adjustable as to the distance between each shelf. The front edge of each shelf is beveled at a so that when the glass D is secured in the front of the case or rack a small V-shaped space will be formed. In order to exhibit a card, letter or photograph it is only necessary to place one edge of it in this space and the glass and beveled edge of the shelve will hold it in an upright position so that it can be easily inspected by any person on the outside of or from the front of the rack or case. In this way letters addressed to foreigners in unfamiliar names or even foreign hand-writing can be easily inspected and the owner of the same can easily identify his or her letter and save both the owner and the post-master a great deal of trouble and annoyance. d

4In order to guard againstany danger of the card or'other article being knocked down or displaced, I run across the case or rack parallel with each shelf, a wire or cord e placed a suitable distance up from the shelf so as t'o come against the card or other article being exhibited at about its center, and thus it becomes securely braced and heldin place. It will thus be understood that when a card or letter is placed in the V-shaped space formed by the glass and the beveled edges of the shelves it will stand substantially upright and it can be easily and readily inspected from the.

outsideorby anyone standing in front of the case or rack.

This case or rack it will be understood in post-offices is to contain all letters `bearing unfamiliar names, or foreign names and letters poorly addressed.

1. A rackor case provided with a top and bottom and side pieces having a glass secured therein, a series of shelves beveled to form a slot or space between the glass and shelves, and wires or cords running parallel with the said shelves, substantially as and for th'e purposes set forth.

2. A rack or case provided with top, side and bottom pieces, a glass secured therein, shelves secured to said side pieces and wires or cords running crosswise and parallel with said shelves, substantially as described.

EDWIN F. SPENCER. 

